Pillowcase construction



April 12, 1932. E M, EHN| I 1,854,023

PILLOWCASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 8, 1931 Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES ELLswoB'rH MILTON EI-INT, or rLusH'nve; NEW YQRK PILLOWGASE CONSTRUCTION Application filed September s; 123311 .SerialNo. 561,783.

This invention relates to improvements in pillow cases; and more particularly, to the seam and hem construction designed to prevent the breaking down of the fabric at the juncture of the hem with the seam.

Heretofore pillow cases have been made with a seam on one side and a hem on the open edge adapted to receivea pillow. This hem is turned on the inside and secured to the C seam, as shown in Figure 1. I have found that the pillow case first shows wear and the fabric appears to break, at the hem where the selvage edges of the seam are secured to the hem.

As a result of extensive investigation and experimentation, I have found that by securing the hem away from the seam at the downturned edge of the hem, and cuttmg the hem in a substantially V-shape, so'that it crosses the selvage edge of the seam at a point adjacent the top of the hem, that this breaking down of the fabric is largely obviated, since there is a double thickness of the material in the hem, and under the old construction, there is approximately five thicknesses at the point of juncture between the seam and the hem. This juncture being in line with the bottom of the hem, a natural bending movement takes place, particularly during the laundering of the pillow case. This continuous bending movement adjacent the five thicknesses of material tends to break the fabric and results in the pillow case wearing out.

It is to obviate this defect that I have designed my present construction.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective showing the construction of the old style pillow case;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective showing the new construction;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary portion of the illow case showing the hem and seam construction of the invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary portion of a pillow case showing the old type hem and seam.

construction Figure 5 1s a section 50 5-5 of Figure 3;

taken through line Figure 6 is .a section taken along line 6-6 of Figure3; r

Figure 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of Figure'l; and

Figure 8. is a fragmentary perspective detail of the hem before being folded to assume the position shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar parts are designated by like numerals:

Numeral 9 designates a pillow case hav- I ing a steam 10 formed in the usual manner, fillClCDIlSlStlIlg of two selvage edges 11 and 12 secured together.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4:, which illustrate the old method of securing a hem 13 to the seam 10, the hem 13 overlaps on the seam 10 and is secured thereto at 14: by stitching. As shown in Figure 7 five layers of material would be secured together at 14, and it is at this point that most of the wear takes place. Since these layers of material are in direct line with the bottom 15 of the hem 13, which is the natural bending point between the hem 13 and the pillow case 9, the resistance set up by the pieces of material at 14: results in the breaking of the fiber and the resulting wearing of the fabric.

By cutting away the material forming the hem 13 at 14:, and securing the same to pillow case 9, at 16 and 17, and to the seam 10 at 18, not only is one thickness of cloth removed from the seam, as shown in Figure 6, but the point of contact between the seam 10 and the hem 13 is taken out of the line of the bottom 15 of the seam 13, and therefore, escapes the bending that normally takes place. 7

The greatest saving is in the laundering of the pillow case, where it is subjected to a constant movement, although it is obvious that there will be a material saving at this point in the general handling of the pillow case. I have found that pillow cases constructed in accordance with my invention give from twenty-five to thirty-three and a third per cent longer wear.

What I claim is:

1. A pillow case formed from a piece of material, and having its sides secured to form a seam, and its open end folded upon itself to form a hem, the outer edge of the hem forming the mouth of the case, the hem bifurcated at its juncture with the seam, the ends of the bifurcated portion being secured to the case and the point of bifurcation to the seam.

2. A pillow case formed from a piece of material and having its sides secured together to form a seam, and its open end folded upon itself to form a hem, the inner edge secured to the case to form the inner portion of the hem and the outer edge of the hem forming the mouth of the case, the hem secured to the seam at a point away from the inner edge of the hem and toward the outer edge, the hem being bifurcated from the seam at the point of contact.

3. An article of bed linen comprising material having adjacent sides secured together to form a seam and having an end folded to form a hem intersecting the line of the seam, the fold of said hem being bifurcated from a point coinciding With said seam and having the bifurcated edges secured to the material spaced from said seam.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELLSlVORTH MILTON EHNI. 

